Early Flintoff decision expected by CricketArchive Staff Reporter

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Player:	A Flintoff, AJ Strauss
Event:	Australia in British Isles 2009

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DateLine: 10th August 2009

 

England skipper is hoping to make an early decision on Andrew Flintoff's fitness ahead of the final Ashes Test at the Oval next week.

 

Flintoff who is set to retire from Test cricket at the end of the series, had to sit out of the fourth Test at Headingley after failing to prove his fitness.

 

The situation did not do much to help England's chaotic preparations at Headingley, and skipper Andrew Strauss is hoping the issue will be decided more swiftly next time around.

 

"Hopefully we're in a better situation to get a result earlier for the final Test," Strauss said.

 

"On the back of Edgbaston, it was impossible to know too far out from this game whether he would be fit enough and it was unfortunate he wasn't quite fit enough.

 

"It will involve constant monitoring from the medical team again about how he's feeling - and his state of mind is going to be important as well - and hopefully we'll know two or three days out from the Test match whether he's fit enough to play or not.

 

"He was bitterly disappointed here but obviously the decision was made having spoken to him and what he felt his level of fitness was.

 

"He understood the situation completely clearly and I think he was very honest as to how fit he felt for this game.

 

"He's still desperate to play in that final Test but he realises he's got to be fit enough."